U.S. national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann has come under attack in recent weeks from former players Philipp Lahm for his lack of tactical acumen and his unorthodox training methods.

Klinsmann didn't back away when asked about the criticisms of Lahm, who played for him with the German national team and Bayern Munich. Lahm said Klinsmann had little to do with Germany's success and was "a failure" with Bayern.

Jurgen Klinsmann: "What I try to do is find always the bigger picture." (AP Photo)

"It's basically a player's perspective who never has the coaching perspective," Klinsmann told reporters Monday. Lahm "doesn't see the big picture, what actually the work of a coach means, in many different elements. ... As a player, there's no perfect coach to you. And as a coach, there's never a perfect, perfect player. And it's just normal.

“I had wonderful coaches throughout my career, from an (Arsene) Wenger to a (Cesar Luis) Menotti to a (Franz) Beckenbauer to a (Berti) Vogts to (Ossie) Ardilles and (Giovanni) Trapattoni [with Bayern] -- they've won everything. I am so thankful I had that opportunity. Was there a perfect, perfect one? For sure not. Because when you work with each other, you (work through) ups and downs. It's just normal."

As for game tactics, Klinsmann said he often delegated implementation to assistant coach Jogi Löw, after hours of strategy sessions.

"I consider myself a constant learner in every area of the game," Klinsmann said. "I think I've learned quite a lot over the last year, and what I try to do is find always the bigger picture, how every element plays a wider role in it."